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Cops Battle Public Workers Facing Ax

March 19, 1996|By Gary Borg.

TORONTO, CANADA — Riot police pummeled striking public workers with batons Monday to clear a path for politicians convening for a new legislative session, expected to bring thousands of layoffs among the province's civil servants.

Two people were taken to a hospital after the clash, which left one striker--struck in the head by a baton--lying motionless in a pool of blood outside a government building next to the legislature.

Pickets from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and supporters from other unions had blocked some officials and their aides from entering the buildings Monday morning. Strikers scuffled with workers and cheered when they forced some staffers to retreat under police escort.

About 54,000 provincial government workers went on strike three weeks ago, demanding better severance packages and pensions for laid-off workers and job security for those whose positions survive the cuts. The Conservatives' main agenda for the new legislative session includes layoffs of 13,000 to 27,000 civil servants.